[Intro – Bus air brakes, low engine rumble, distant voices, eerie guitar harmonics] [VOICE A – Quiet spoken voice] "There's a seat in the back." [Sudden heavy bass riff, tight hip-hop drums] [Verse 1 – VOICE A ONLY: Low baritone rapper, dry close-mic delivery, conversational rhythmic flow] Thirty-two kids and two seats left I knew where I was going before I took a step The fabric on the cushion had a cigarette burn And a word carved underneath that I'd learned to ignore They'd move their bags when somebody else got on But somehow there was never any room when I came along I kept my eyes outside, counted poles along the road Had my headphones on with the batteries long gone One kid took my surname, made a joke out of the sound By Friday half the bus was passing it around I never told my mother what was happening at school Said the ride was fine, asked what we were having for food [Short Build – VOICE B ONLY: Higher raspy tenor, restrained melodic vocals] They said it didn't mean a thing Funny what a little thing can bring... [Chorus – VOICE B ONLY: Explosive melodic rock vocals, huge distorted guitars, raw emotional delivery] BACK ROW! I CAN STILL HEAR THE SOUND OF MY NAME IN THEIR MOUTHS WHEN THE ENGINE DROWNED IT OUT! BACK ROW! ALL THESE YEARS HAVE COME AND GONE I GOT OFF AT MY OWN STOP BUT SOMETHING IN ME STAYED ON! [Instrumental – Grinding syncopated guitars, distorted bass, turntable scratches] [Verse 2 – VOICE A ONLY: Faster, angrier rap with natural pauses] Now I'm sitting at a table with some people from work Somebody makes a joke and everybody turns I laugh a little early, before I even understand With the same stupid feeling in the fingers of my hands It's a different room, different people, different year Still my shoulders tense before the punchline appears Did they mean anything by it? Probably not Does my body know the difference? Apparently not In the group photographs I'm standing near the edge Leaving room for somebody who hasn't even asked I learned how to get along, how to never cause a scene It's amazing what you carry from the age of thirteen [Chorus – VOICE B ONLY: Powerful raspy rock singing, layered harmonies] BACK ROW! I CAN STILL HEAR THE SOUND OF MY NAME IN THEIR MOUTHS WHEN THE ENGINE DROWNED IT OUT! BACK ROW! ALL THESE YEARS HAVE COME AND GONE I GOT OFF AT MY OWN STOP BUT SOMETHING IN ME STAYED ON! [Bridge – Drums and guitars cut out, distant bus engine fades into silence] [VOICE A – Intimate spoken rap] Last week on the train A kid stood by the door Looking for somewhere to sit I moved my bag. Didn't say anything clever. Didn't change his life. He sat down. We rode. [Slow bass pulse returns] [VOICE A – Aggressive rhythmic rap] You called it a joke You probably forgot The way that you said it The place where I sat You grew up and left it Somewhere down the road I kept it for years Without even knowing [VOICE B – Rising, desperate melodic singing] You never had to remember! [VOICE B – Explosive raw scream] I WAS JUST A KID! [Breakdown – Crushing half-time distorted guitars, pounding drums, brutal bass riff, turntable cuts] [Final Chorus – VOICE B ONLY: Massive melodic rock climax, raw raspy belting] BACK ROW! I CAN STILL HEAR THE SOUND OF MY NAME IN THEIR MOUTHS WHEN THE ENGINE DROWNED IT OUT! BACK ROW! ALL THESE YEARS HAVE COME AND GONE I GOT OFF AT MY OWN STOP BUT SOMETHING IN ME STAYED ON! [Final line – Instruments stop, exposed emotional vocal] BUT I DON'T HAVE TO STAY THERE ANYMORE! [Outro – Original bass riff fades into distant road noise] [VOICE A – Almost whispered] "There's a seat right here." [End]
